White Sox sign pitcher Nate Fisher to a minor-league deal

Fisher, 26, graduated from Nebraska in 2019 and went undrafted in that year’s MLB Draft. The Seattle Mariners signed him to a minor league contract not long after, and he went on to make his professional debut for the High-A Everett AquaSox later that season.

The lefty was later released during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and began coaching Little League Baseball the following year after going unsigned. In June 2021, the Mariners reached back out to Fisher and signed him to a new minor league deal. Nicknamed “The Banker” after working at a bank prior to his second professional stint, Fisher put up a 2.89 ERA, 0.964 WHIP, and 11.3 K/9 in 37.1 IP (21 games) across four different levels by the season’s end.

After his impressive showing, Fisher landed with the New York Mets on another minor league and made his big league debut just a few months ago. Entering in relief on August 21, Fisher pitched three scoreless innings as part of the Mets’10–9 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. The following day, Fisher was designated for assignment, went unclaimed on waivers, and was outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse.

Though Fisher’s minor league numbers this past season weren’t nearly as impressive, the signing by the White Sox is more about adding some much needed pitching depth to Triple-A Charlotte. If anything, it appears Fisher could join the list of relievers who gain frequent flyer miles between Charlotte and Chicago later on next season. It’s nothing to get too excited about, but it’s better than nothing.

The White Sox, who added a pair of players to their 40-man roster ahead of today’s Rule 5 deadline, have not yet made this move official.